The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1887-10-11
GRASSES OF GEORGIA.
Friends of the Farmer That Grow
While He Sleeps.
THE WONDERFUL NEW CLOVER

NAcoocHEE, Ga, September co Correspon-
dence Charleston News and Courier. Permit
me 10 speak of new and valuable plant
known as tho Lespedeza Strata, which has
within the past few years been welcomed to
naturalization, aHd is spreading rapidly all
over this mountain country. This clover Is of
more value to the farmer than the Georgia gold
mines. II is said that there is nothing new
under the sun, but this grass or clover is GER
tainly new, as it was not known in any part of
the United States before the war
Many believe that it was brought here dur
ing Sherman march through G eorgia. This
cannot be true, as the Lespedeza was first seen
in the deep coyes and valleys in the mountains
never visited by the union soldiers and seldom
by man. / have park of some hundred acres
near my mountain home on which | had been
for years trying to get stand Of red clover and
blue grass, but without success.
Within the last ten years the Lespcdeza has
been gradually spreading over il until nearly
every foot Of the park is covered, and nov
looks as green and beautiful as the blue grass
fields of Kentucky. IT affords a luXuriant
grazing pasture for cattle, horses and sheep
even the hogs fatten on it, The beauty of this
new clover is that il is sclf-propagating, grows
well on lawns exposed to the sun. thriyes in
parks covered by the largest trees merely re-
=
The Lespedeza will totally destroy the ugly
Bermuda grass. and from my experience with
the Bermuda ] think the contest an unequal
one. Twenty years ago was so much pleased
with the Bermuda grass that | saw growing in
middle Georgia decided to introduce it into
NacooChec valley. ] brought with me from
Madison, Ga, a small package Of its joints,
which were tIansplanted in a lawn. / found
the bermuda spreading so rapidly feared it
would find its way into the valley and injufc
the land required for the cultivation of other
crops. Having decided to extrpate it,
selected a hot, dry spell in July; then and there
began the tug OF war.
In tearing TO pieces with strong pair of
mules and a coulter plow the matted roots
which were as tangled san Indian cane brake,
| broke the ploH and injured the mules more
than did the grass. To make sure work, /
cremated every joint Of the grass / could find.
When ] returned the following summer you
can judge my surprise to find that the dreaded
Bermuda had spread thrcefold the tearing to
pieces the clotted roots was Just what it needed
TO make it spread and form q beautiful green
lawn. The roots of the Bermuda penetrate so
deep into the still tenacious red clay that the
deepest blowing fails to eradicate them.
This experiment Of minc convinced me that
for the 'red old hills of Georgia there is no
grass equal TO the Bermuda. | find that it
makes a fine green lawn. affords good pastur-.
age for horses aud cattle, and in good soil
makes a hay equal to the best meadow lands.
The bermuda Will grow on WOrn-out fields,
restore quilted slopes into luxuriant pastures;
does not thrive on sandy land, but is without
1o"nt ,i'e ~ ~ " ioliG1'' ''o Fru hil's W
3e"rei9 4l" We oaIo,i'as, loI 1t Stah"S the
sun ,iIu ~ tiis t"IItly ~ mas no
f';s, ~ 10 l'l"l'"'o" W i'SoIs oNoiA
after ID IL Crcmatcd.
The Bermuda should not, however, he grown
on land that you wish 10 cultivate in other
crops. ! had rather make my bread on Yonah
nIV1i'l.''h '"oli "tt'u'Pt " Eio" toi" On 1t
NY " cIill WY" l'ullnHu" truss ~ -, heF
eIthVlSHsi = lll M N"luaele etSs, aiu s,pulu
DC GultiF"'eu ioi grazing Pu'poSoS anu nay
1 ih9h'hE;
a. h9l .He eilerlsea l4eNpeoe1a Is lue poor ana
| thc IVY nun iile,l"' ~ II lIol''sa'es hseii
! crows spontaneously "ltnout t,S Gu'ue, Protee9s
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I glt lee. In thus long mountain stretch are